Wasps
Pest In late summer wasps damage ripe plums, apples and grapes.
What to look for
Hollowed-out fruit, often with wasps feeding inside, from August to October. Earlier in the year wasps help by feeding on caterpillars.
When: August to October.
How to prevent it
- Pick fruit as soon as it is ripe and collect windfalls daily.
- Cover ripe bunches or fruit with fine mesh or organza bags.
How to deal with it
- Hang wasp traps (a jam jar with sweet bait) a few metres from fruit, away from where you sit.
- Leave nests alone unless they are close to the house, as wasps are beneficial in spring.
Crops it affects
If you choose to use any treatment, use only products approved for UK home gardens, follow the label and avoid spraying open flowers. See all pests and diseases.